Papamoa man Kevin Allen has been awarded a New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to people with brain injuries.
PAPAMOA man Kevin Allen has been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to people with brain injuries.
Mr Allen had contributed to the insurance industry and supported charitable organisations, particularly those providing support for people with brain injuries.
The 65-year-old was a boardmember of the Brain Injury Association in Auckland from 2005 to 2006.
He was also a board member of Optionz Brain Rehabilitation and Recovery Trust from 2006 to 2017 and was chairman for 10 of those years.
Mr Allen is now a risk consultant for Optionz, which provides rehabilitation and recovery support for people affected by concussion and brain injury.
"It is an incredibly rewarding business. The reward comes from giving back to helping this organisation grow. These people have through no fault of their own developed a brain injury.
"I find it incredibly rewarding, sobering at times, but a pleasure to be involved in an oganisation like this."
Mr Allen said Optionz was a "rehabilitation arm" to the Brain Injury Association. There are four Optionz rehabilitation centres in New Zealand, including Tauranga, Hamilton and two in Auckland.
"Our clients come to us if they have had an accident, whether it was at home or at work, of if they have been in a motor vehicle accident."
Mr Allen said 60 per cent of clients were ACC referrals. He recalls a teenage girl who was knocked over by a drunk driver on a pedestrain crossing in Auckland.
Kevin Allen has been made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to people with brain injuries. Photo/Andrew Warner.
"One of the things that grabbed your heart was most days she would say to the caregivers, 'Why did this happen to me?'"
"But she got on with it, she had very limited movement, but she could type with a pin in her mouth."
Mr Allen said his family had always been involved in giving back to the community, which inspired him to also give back with the charitable organisation Optionz.
He said the charitable trust relies heavily on government funding. "If it wasn't for our rehab staff and volunteers it would not be as successful."
When Mr Allen received the letter from the Prime Minister's office in April, was an unexpected honour. Mr Allen said it was nice to have the work he had done for not-for-profit organisations over 30-plus years recognised.
